As South Africa travels to Birmingham for the Commonwealth Games, which get underway on Thursday, 28 July, a squad of 20 swimmers will spearhead their medal push.
Tatjana Schoenmaker, an Olympic gold and silver medalist and current world record holder in the 100- and 200-meter breaststroke events, and Chad le Clos, who has won an astonishing 17 medals through three Commonwealth Games so far, will lead the charge against the competition.
With just one more medal required to tie shooters Phillip Adams and Mick Gault for the most medals ever won by an individual athlete at the Commonwealth Games, and two needed to break it, Le Clos is aiming to break the record.
Swimming produced the most gold medals for Team South Africa at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia, with six.
In addition, they increased South Africa’s total medal count by three silvers and three bronzes.
In the 4x100m medley relay, Le Clos won three gold medals, a silver, and a bronze, while Schoenmaker took home two golds.
Le Clos recently withdrew from the World Championships in Budapest due to breathing difficulties, but he insists he’s on track again.
He remarked from his headquarters in Plymouth, UK, “It took me a bit to get back, but I’ve been working hard in my training.”
I’ve been working on many various facets of my game to get ready for Commonwealths, so this has always been my main emphasis. I’ve really taken this year very seriously.
Le Clos, who is 30 years old, will compete in the 100-meter freestyle, 50-meter, 100-meter, and 200-meter butterfly events.
He also thinks the South African men can do something exceptional in the 4×200-meter freestyle and 4×100-meter medley relays.
I’m quite enthusiastic about that because, in his words, “medals in the relays for us should be celebrated like gold medals.”
I frequently check in on the boys and send them all private messages to see how training is going.
We may likely catch a lot of folks off guard. I believe it would be fantastic if we all did our jobs, had good weeks, and put ourselves in a position to be competitive.
Several of the team’s younger members, such as Lara van Niekerk (who recently won bronze in the 50-meter breaststroke at the World Championships in Budapest) and the teenage Olympians Matt Sates and Pieter Coetzé, will be vying to follow in the footsteps of Le Clos and Schoenmaker.
For many individuals, the Commonwealth Games are significant, according to Le Clos.
“In addition to myself, there are many young people emerging. Of course, Lara winning a medal in the 50 at the world championships was incredible.
Pieter has had a fantastic season, and Matthew has had a fantastic year and a half.
It’s a big week for us as South African swimming, and of course Tatjana is a superstar and has titles to defend,” continued Le Clos.
Van Niekerk, 19, said: “Training has been going well, and fortunately I have had the gym to practise in when it gets really cold here in Pretoria.
It has been a busy time since Worlds catching up on school work and exams.
“I am eager to join Team SA, just as I did for the Worlds. I really want to concentrate on my own race and making the most of the entire Games experience, she continued.
“I have been in the UK since World Champs preparing for the Commonwealth Games, and I am satisfied with how preparations have been going,” said Sates, who had a cold right before the World Championships.
After getting sick during Worlds, it took me a few days to fully recover, but I am currently in good health.
I’m still deciding which swimming events I’ll compete in, but I plan to concentrate on the freestyle and individual medley events.
Since this will be my first Commonwealth Games, all I want to do is give it my all while once again competing against the finest swimmers.
The opportunity to represent Team SA is always an honour.
Three swimmers with disabilities are also competing in the Para swimming competitions in Birmingham.
In the S7 50m freestyle, Christian Sadie finished second in 2018 and will be vying for another podium finish, while Cornell Leach and Alani Ferreira will be pursuing the same goal in the women’s competitions.
Ferreira stated, “I am growing more and more enthusiastic for the Games by the minute.
“Since this is my first Commonwealth Games, I’m thrilled to have the chance to compete. Typically, there are no races specifically for those who are blind.
There is only one race, the 50-meter freestyle, which is not my primary race, for the first time in my career.
Actually, it’s not even in my typical race calendar, but I’m thrilled to have taken on this one for now and to give it my best effort.
“I’ve really loved a bit of a difference in the process. I’m so excited to see how I perform in this race and just to go and represent,” the swimmer said of the preparation.
“It’s not my regular distance training for my 200 free, 100 breast, and 200 IM.”
The swimming programme begins on Friday, July 29, and lasts until Wednesday, August 3.
South African swimming squad at the 2022 Commonwealth Games:
Men
Andrew Ross, Matthew Sates, Michael Houlie, Chad le Clos, Guy Brooks, Pieter Coetze, Brenden Crawford, and
Women
Michaela Pulford, Tatjana Schoenmaker, Lara van Niekerk, Aimee Canny, Emma Chelius, Dune Coetzee, Kaylene Corbett, Erin Gallagher, Rebecca Meder, Olivia Nel, and Erin Gallagher
Christian Sadie, men’s
Alani Ferreira and Cornelle Leach, women
Rocco Meiring, Wayne Riddin, Eugene Da Ponte, and Theo Verster are the coaches.
Supervisor: Julie Cassim